Quote: Trust Yourself

“Trust yourself.  Think for yourself.  Act for yourself.  Speak for yourself.  Be yourself.  Imitation is suicide.”

-Marva Collins

I have to say I think this is something you learn with age.  Many times I have wished I could implant this life-learned-lesson onto my children so that they would just know how important it is to be true to yourself (no matter what anyone else thinks).  But like so many other lessons, this is something they will have to learn for themselves.  Are you being true to yourself or are you trying to imitate others?

The Advance Copy of My New 12-Month Planner Arrived!!

   

Thumbs up for mom’s new planner!



Here I am with my advanced copy of Organize Now: 12-Month Home and Activity Planner.  Seeing a book (or planner) completely done and printed for the first time is the most exciting feeling!  The planner is due in stores this October. Of course I am already using my copy and I love it!

 

A closer look at the cover…do you like the blue?



Lists 3 calendar years and upcoming holidays.



Inside the planner.  The first page of each month gives you a place to list goals and dates that your bills are due.



Quote: Whatever I Wanted To Be

“I could be whatever I wanted to be if I trusted that music, that song, that vibration of God that was inside of me”.

-Shirely Maclaine

This may be on the most important quotes you can read.  If you believe in that gift that God puts in you, you can be anything!  God gave me the gift of organization and it brings me joy to be able to use that gift each to help make a person’s life better.  What song is playing inside of you today?

Quote: Thoughts and Clutter

“It is ultimately our thinking, more than our outer circumstances, that determines whether we live lives of harmony and peace or pain and despair.

-Marianne Williamson

Marianne is one of my personal all time favorite authors and speakers.  Her book, A Return to Love, radically changed my life and my spiritual views.  I can not agree with this quote more because I truly believe that our thoughts create our future.  If I think about this in terms of clutter I am reminded that many times it is our negative thoughts that keep us from diving in and dealing with our clutter.  Are your thoughts taking away the peace and harmony you could have in your home?  Are they causing you to live in pain and despair in a space that should bring your family joy? Be honest with yourself…

What To Do With Deep Bathroom Cabinets

Jennifer,

I love your book – I hope to be organized one day soon!! I have cabinets in my bathroom that are deep and I want to get the best use out of them. I put my make up and lotions, but things always end up in the back and forgotten. I am thinking maybe I should make this my linen closet and use the other closet that is more shallow to put my make up and lotions in. The more shallow closet is right beside the shower, so that is why I keep towels in there. The deeper closet is next to the bathroom counter, so that is why I keep my make up in there. It is a tiny bathroom…I just feel like I am wasting space. I wanted to see what you had to say before I went out and bought any containers to put my items in for the deeper closet. Any suggestions?

Thank you!

Jennifer

Hi Jennifer,

Thank you for your email. 

Anytime you have deep cabinets you want to place items in some sort of storage container so that you can easily pull items out.  Such as clear, plastic drawers…I love these because you can stack them as high as you need and they are cheap!  You could also use baskets or the plastic baskets with a handle.  This way you can grab the container and pull it up to eye level.

However, I do like the idea of splitting up the bathroom a little just to maximize space. For example, you could keep one shelf of towels and then place the rest of them on one side of the cabinet. That should hopefully free up one or two shelves for beauty products and lotions.  The best part about that will be that the products you use most can be at eye level.

Tip: when using shelves always place smallest items at eye level.

Remember, there is no ONE way to organize. Make the space work for you! 

Happy Organizing,

JFB

Berenstain Bears Live in NYC

Playing in NYC Live Now! The Berenstain Bears Musical. MMAC – Manhattan Movement and Arts Center 248 West 60th Street, New York, NY 10023

I couldn’t attend the show so my sister and nephew attended. He is almost 2 and loved it!

Pax says “the bears were silly”.  They even give out bear ears for the kids to wear!

Adapted from the classic children’s book series by Stan and Jan Berenstain, The Berenstain Bears LIVE! in Family Matters, the Musical brings everyone’s favorite bear family to life in a thrilling theatrical experience that kids as well as their parents will treasure for many years to come. As always, Bear Country is not without its complications: Brother Bear’s grades are slipping, Sister Bear still has a few things to learn about making new friends, and Papa Bear just can’t stop eating junk food. Thankfully, we can always depend on Mama Bear and her loving patience to help set things right. The newest Off-Broadway musical for Mamas, Paps, and Young Cubs in NYC, The Berenstain Bears LIVE! will give boys and girls of all ages the chance to fall in love with these characters, just as their parents did when they were growing up.

Performance dates are as follows:


June 25 – July 16, Sat & Sun at 2pm


July 23 – July 31, Sat at 2pm & 4:30pm, Sun at 2pm


Aug 13 – Aug 14, Sat & Sun at 2pm


Aug 20 – Sep 4, Sat at 2pm & 4:30pm, Sun at 2pm

Picts from Florida Trip

Doing some final edits for my next book on the plane.



Book Signing at Barnes & Noble in West Palm Beach

Speaking at my college Florida Atlantic University.

Building an Organized Home: Foundation

Here are some picts of when they put the foundation in for our house.  I am rapidly trying to catch up on all the photos here.  Currently we are all the way to the dry wall stage! (yes I know I will hurry and post the in between picts) so much going on!  I am currently picking out paint and meeting with companies about possible storage solutions (my favorite part!!).  What are your favorite companies to work with?



Forms being set so they can pour the foundation.



Here is my Dad and Hubby working.



Cletus taking over where Reece left off and protecting the property.